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An emerging role for neutrophil extracellular traps in noninfectious disease

Nature Medicine volume 23, pages 279–287 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

The production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is a process that enables neutrophils to help catch and kill bacteria. However, increasing evidence suggests that this process might also occur in noninfectious, sterile inflammation. In this Review, we describe the role of NETosis in autoimmunity, coagulation, acute injuries and cancer, and discuss NETs as potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, we consider whether extracellular DNA is always detrimental in sterile inflammation and whether the source is always NETs.

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Figure 1: Overview of NETosis.
Figure 2: Overview of how NETosis may be involved in noninfectious-disease progression.

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Acknowledgements

We thank C. Deppermann for proofreading the manuscript. Work in the authors' laboratory is supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canada Research Chairs program.

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  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

    Selina K Jorch & Paul Kubes

  2. Immunology Research Group, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

    Paul Kubes

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Correspondence to Paul Kubes.

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Jorch, S., Kubes, P. An emerging role for neutrophil extracellular traps in noninfectious disease. Nat Med 23, 279–287 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.4294

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